The American Motorcycle Association along with Women Rider’s council chose six influential women riders from Canada:
“These six Canadian women have encouraged, inspired, educated and promoted the female motorcycling lifestyle and sports through the industry, governments, community or public arenas over a sustained period of time.”
http://www.motorcycling.ca/women/index.html
http://www.motorcycling.ca/images/LGering.jpg
International Women & Motorcycling Conference 2009
Women! Motorcycles! And more women! Oh My!
By Lesley Gering
This year in Keystone, Colorado at over 9,000 feet above sea level, nestled high in the glorious Rocky Mountains, The AMA’s (American Motorcycling Association) International Women and Motorcycling Conference, viewed as USA's premier event for women bikers. Hosted approximately 1,000 female motorcyclist from around the world. Informative seminars, inspiring keynote speakers, test rides, vendors galore the sheer beauty of scenic riding on Colorado highways were no match to the level of camaraderie and sisterhood amongst the ladies in attendance.
 Motocross Champion
The welcoming ceremony was kicked off by keynote speaker Ashley Fiolek, profoundly deaf Motocross champion. Her story, told through poetic use of sign language spoke volumes to a teary eyed crowd, so much so that she was met with a standing ovation at the end of her speech. As a rookie rider at age 13, Ashley received her first big win at the Loretta Lynn Air Nautique Nationals in 2004. For the next three years, Ashley dominated the MX circuit capturing 13 national amateur championships, including the title Women/Girl Amateur Racer of the Year in 2005. In 2008 she won the AMA/WMA Women's Motocross Championship and her recent announcement to her fans: a win at the XGames. Oh, and did I mention she’s only 18!
Speed Goddesses
Leslie Porterfield and Erin Hunter were lovely, charming and almost religious about speed. (Glen see attached photo of the three of us at the barn dance) Leslie and I met early on at the media gathering, eating chips and salsa and chatting over dogs and men. Later we were affectionately dubbed “Lesley Squared” since we found ourselves posing for the “non-chalante” paparazzi. All this fan fair was natural action for Leslie since she conquered three land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2007, feats all accomplished after an accident that left her with seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a concussion. After flying back from Baja the next year, she decided to attend the AMA’s award ceremony and was completely surprised when she was awarded the "2008 Racing Female Rider of the Year" with her top speed at 234.197 mph. Later at the Rocky Mountain Barn dance, “the L-squares” posed for more photos with Erin Hunter who was the first and only women to set a world land speed record in a motorcycle streamliner. Can you say WOW – speed goddesses? Anyway, the Barn dance continued with everyone chowin’ down on beef brisket and corn on the cob all the while showin’ what good sports we were by adornin’ our Kawasaki “howdy doody” cowboy hats. Most of the gals with motorcycle boots on enjoyed a little “heel-step-toe” dancin’, while others gathered around bales of hay for a little lassoing. And me? Well, I just kept walkin’ into the amber softness of a good old fashioned rocky mountain sunrise; you see a little time alone was in order after a long day rubbin’ shoulders with a thousand amazing women and their stories.
 Fashion Tips from Davidson Herself
Believe it or not, I’m not a person who really thinks a whole lot about fashion. Usually I find something I totally adore, wear it to death and only then break it up the "uniform" with a unique accessory. I see fashion as the special details, items that are more about heart then trend. So, it came as a complete surprise when I was approached by the great-granddaughter of William A. Davidson, Karen Davidson and also the creative director for Harley-Davidson’s General merchandise Department and given the BIG thumbs about my fashion sense every time our paths crossed. In 1991, The Council of Fashion Designers of America in New York bestowed the prestigious industry award to Karen and Harley Davidson for their fashion influence, so I felt quite honoured that Karen was checkin' out my attire and perhaps designing her next line of Harley gear based on the hodgepodge of the Motorgirl collection - ha!
 Oh Canada!
As hosts to the International Street Party, Canada did us proud! The 63 Canadians at the Colorado conference more than doubled the attendance figure of 28 at the previous International Women and Motorcycling Conference in 2006 in Athens, Georgia. Most of us in red and white, the gals rocked out our national colors while sweet and spirited, Liz Jansen (Chair of WRC/MCC) started the festivities with a welcome which was then followed by featured speaker the exuberant and witty, Deb Grey. Dubbed “The First Lady of Reform”, she challenged all of us to transform our future and re-evaluate our lives. The spirit of her words followed its truth! Later that night, every single one of us was ready to leave that bad job, leave that bad love interest or at least throw out the bad leftovers in the fridge. We were pumped to make some important life changes and ride fearlessly forward to our glorious future – oh my! I laughed the whole way through her speech with tears in my eyes – and of course! What do you expect from a woman politician who had the brass to ride her motorcycle to the House of Commons? Later, Canadian band Johnny Rev and the Pushrods entertained us with their music and their shiny red shoes. We stood shoulder to shoulder with our sisters from Switzerland, Australia and Japan while the AMA snapped a group photo from the Village rooftop and the festivities continued into the evening. And little old me? Well, I wandered over to Snake Saloon for a little “local” flavour, danced into the night and then hiked up the Ridge with some locals to watch the meteor showers into the wee hours of the morning, lighting up the night with some poetry reading done over the light of a good old fashioned cellular phone! Good thing I had such compassionate roommates, especially with grits being served for breakfast around 900 am... Dizzy...dizzy day...
 Helmet Hair
Ah yes, the long wanders down to the conference center, light headed mornings with dragonflies, purple fireweed and little groundhog creatures that taunted your every move. It was always in these moments, I would count my blessings and got excited about the days adventures, only later to meet two amazing ambassadors of the Sisters of Scota – Gramps and Grumbles who ended up being the catalyst to me finally meeting the editors of Helmet Hair Magazine, Becky Shimek & Cara Mae McGuire. Now the interesting point of this is THIS is a magazine where I had been a featured motorcycle artist and voted The #3 Female Motorcycle Photographer. So, here I finally got to meet these amazing Texas sweethearts and give thanks for their unconditional support to my Motorgirl career and their unique contribution to the world of female motorcycling.
 The Golden Hallway
With such unique women and their stories, it was difficult to choose a single memorable moment but after digging deep in the archives of seminars, test rides, key note speakers and displays; it could be only one thing – The Golden Hallway. Yes, the Golden Hallway in the main conference building where a collection of pictures and biographies proudly displayed - Influential Women Riders of Canada: “These six Canadian women who have encouraged, inspired, educated and promoted the female motorcycling lifestyle and sports through the industry, governments, community or public arenas over a sustained period of time.” Women Riders’ Council and the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada hand-picked these ladies that included: Audrey Alexandre, Lesley Gering, Sgt. Lise Grenier, Deborah Grey, Toni Sharpless and Meg Thorburn. I was proud to be among this wonderful group of women. And more importantly, I was proud to be a Canadian female motorcyclist who had an unique opportunity to participate in the conference.
Thank you to all the women at Keystone – your stories are forever in my mind and may one day end up here but for those I promised to keep private and true – thank you for your confidence.
Special thanks to BMW Motorrad (www.bmw-motorrad.ca <http://www.bmw-motorrad.ca/> ) and their continued support in the world of women& motorcycling and to the AMA for hosting The International Women & Motorcycling Conference (www.womenandmotorcycling.com <http://www.womenandmotorcycling.com/> ). To read more about the Influential Riders of Canada go to www.motorcycling.ca <http://www.motorcycling.ca/> and click on women rider’s council. To see more of Lesley’s art and writing www.motorgirl.com <http://www.motorgirl.com/> . And to check out Helmet Hair’s online magazine go to www.helmethairmagazine.com <http://www.helmethairmagazine.com/> . Shiny side up, my friends.
|
